It always pays to do some research at the beginning of a new venture. An normally it’s the type of thing I wouldn’t skip.
I’m blaming the laid back atmosphere in the beautiful city of Barcelona, where eat|shop|drink was born, but unfortunately I missed a few important details.
When a friend pointed out that there was another Sydney based blog called eat and drink, I decided to do a little research. It was then that I discovered a London based design blog was already using eat|shop|dink.
Time for a new name.
And so I give you bread shoes reviews over at www.breadshoes.com – hope to see you there soon!
Love
Jules x
ps. and if you’re interested in the story behind the title, all is revealed on my new about page.
32 Burton St
Darlinghurst, NSW
www.thecommons.com.au
There’s nothing like discovering a new bar on the way home from a big Saturday night dinner. Especially when said bar is run by a really lovely crew who are keen to share some live tunes and good vino with a couple of stragglers in off the street.
What was the pop-up restaurant known as Pond has become The Commons. Same folks, new name. And I must say I’m keen to return here to check out the food. If the wine list and bar vibe are anything to go by it should be a real treat.
loved
the cool underground cellar bar
friendly proprietors
the casual decor
the interesting wine list
the sydney sandstone walls
intimate live music – a young bloke named Darren Sylvester
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92 Abercrombie St
Chippendale, NSW
no website
There’s nothing like an underground restaurant to get the jaded [and not-so-jaded] food lover excited.
I was introduced to Hugh Wennerbom last year by a wine merchant mate of mine and have been loving the occasional dinner that he puts on in a little cafe in Chippendale.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure whether Hugh would like being reviewed on a blog. So I asked him and he was a little hesitant – apparently he prefers to keep it a word-of-mouth, friends-of-friends affair. That way people know what they’re getting themselves in for.
So I promised that my blog was pretty much a friends-of-friends affair and that I’d explain the concept, just like I do when I take people to Hugh’s for the first time.
Hugh is a providore with a farm down near Taralga. I think he has a wholesale business but on Thurs, Fri and Sat evenings he takes over an unassuming cafe in the inner city and puts on a seriously good spread. As I mentioned before, it’s a word-of-mouth thing. There’s no menu. You just turn up with your mates and something good from your cellar and let Hugh feed you. It’s all shared. It’s always seriously delicious and fresh. Excellent produce being treated as simply as possible.
Just remember that if you do go with your wine merchant mate and his colleagues that there will be LOTS of delicious vino to match the food and that it’s a good idea to pace yourself. Next time.
loved
the set menu – no difficult decisions required
the simple cooking style – letting amazing produce speak for itself
the scampi with a salad of samphire, shaved fennel and dill – a big taste of the sea
mulloway – lovely moist fish – something that was served at quay recently [note to self - eat more mulloway]
the salad leaves – so crisp and fresh
the cheese – crumbly cheddar with a hint of blue
the relaxed vibe
that everything is served in the middle to share
BYO – lots of good booze
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Overseas Passenger Terminal
Circular Quay West
Sydney, NSW, 2000
www.quay.com.au
When my beautiful littlest sister announced that she and her beau were having their wedding reception at Quay to say I was excited was a serious understatement. January 24th seemed a long way away. But time marched on and soon enough two families and friends gathered together in their finery to celebrate the union of one of the cutest couples I know.
With sparkly Sydney Harbour as a backdrop and Peter Gilmore’s awe-inspiring cuisine as an accompaniment I’d be hard pressed to imagine a better way for two people to start married life together. Yay for Nao and Joel.
loved
the food. best wedding food ever
ravioli served as a canape (note to self – eat ravioli with the fingers more often)
the scallops – so plump, so sweet, so flavoursome
the lamb – so plump, so sweet, so flavoursome
the cake – mum would have been proud
getting to choose our own entree and main
the groom’s speech – personal and touching and lovely with a good dose of trademark humour
the view – and having own balcony overlooking the opera house
the dj – a mate of the groom’s dressed in his tux
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118 Ramsgate Ave
North Bondi NSW
www.idrb.com/northbondi/
There’s something about Bondi. It may not be our most beautiful of beaches but it does have a charm of it’s own. There are few better things to do in Sydney, especially when the sun is shining, than walk along the coast track from Bronte or even Coogee to our most iconic beach. Add in the reward of a late lunch or an early dinner and we’re talking a perfect day.
Fortunately there are a few options for feeding a well earned hunger and North Bondi Italian has to be close to the top of the list. Striking the perfect balance between casual beach chic and affordability, it’s been one of my favourite haunts for a while now. The perfect place to take an ex-Sydney mate for a belated birthday dinner to remind him of how good our harbour city is.
loved
the food(!) – a brilliant example of the goodness of simple italian
the salumi – produced by Robert Marchetti, Icebergs chef – just the thing for someone going through painful jamon withdrawls after a trip to Spain
the carpaccio – I’ve had each of the three carpaccios on the menu and have enjoyed them all immensely. the beef dererves a special mention. So tender it almost melts in the mouth with a perfectly savoury herb salsa it is at once both fresh and rich. more please.
the crispy Italian style potatoes – garlic rosemary potato heaven
the pasta – have yet to try the spaghetti arrabbiata baked in a paper bag as I keep getting side tracked by the rigatoni
the view – hello Bondi
the inexpensive wine list with a good mix of italian stallions and local versions of the same
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291 Annandale St
Annandale NSW 2025
no website yet
Last Thursday I commuted to work for the very last time. Yes the cross city tunnel will no longer be on my daily radar. To celebrate I booked in for a last inner west breakfast with my lovely creative friend, Laura – soon-to-be-fellow-self-published cookbook author.
We met last year when we both took a class on marketing your book so whenever we get together there is never a shortage of animated conversation. I always come away feeling energised and inspired. And with a nutritious and delicious breakfast under my belt I couldn’t think of a better way to start the day.
I have a feeling I’ll be finding excuses to venture to the inner west even though my office is now at home on the east side.
loved
the ecclectic decor
the care taken by the service and attention to detail – offered to remake a chai latte because he could see it was too strong just by the colour
the leafy suburban location
the beautiful china tea cups
an egg timer is served with your tea if you need these things timed to precision
well balanced menu of cafe standards with a few fun and interesting twists
the yoghurt
the avocado served with a dollup of pesto in the hole left by the seed
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98 Holdsworth St
Woollahra NSW 2025
(02) 9328 9922
no website yet
I’m a little bit reluctant to spread the word about Flat White. For a long time now it’s been my favourite Eastern Suburbs brunch spot. It’s always busy. I’d hate for it to get any more popular. But keeping such a gem to myself just feels too selfish.
So on the morning of my littlest sisters wedding, I generously shared my secret with my ski patroller sister who was back in town for the big event (complete with heat rash) and my almost rock star brother – who managed to have a two course brunch – poached eggs with a pork sandwich chaser – talk about an appetite.
Flat White now has two new fans.
loved
the pork sandwich – a serious contender for the best sandwich ever. rich slow cooked melt-in-the-mouth pork with crunchy crackling, crisp apple, chutney and rocket
the lamb sandwich – super moist slow slow cooked lamb with chuntey & rocket
the middle eastern influences in the menu – especially the poached eggs with za’atar and spinach – the perfect thing for when you feel like a proper breakfast with a bit of a twist
breezy, buzzy cafe vibe
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12 Argyle St
The Rocks, SYDNEY
www.sakerestaurant.com.au
It’s not often that I go out in The Rocks. But it struck me as I headed out for dinner the other night that it must be all that some visitors to Sydney see. Fortunately there are a few good eating options in amongst the tourist traps. Pony is an old fav.
My recent discovery is Sake Restaurant & Bar. A modern, Nobu-inspired Japanese joint that is just the place for a good catchup with my Japan-ophile design guru friend. As she told the waiter, ‘I’m here for the fit out, Jules is here for the food.’ We make a great team.
loved
the sake menu – apparently there are some sakes imported exclusively to Australia by the restaurant.
the sake rating which describes the dryness, alcohol content and degree of rice polishing of each sake – just the thing for educating beginners
the kingfish with jalapeno and yuzu soy
the aptly named dynamite tuna hand roll
the cute bar stools & shadow lighting
the well laid out modern menu – which even includes a section for kids – lucky children
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81 Macleay St
Potts Point, SYDNEY
www.fratellifresh.com.au
One of the best things about going on holiday is coming home and having lots of gossip to catch up on. Just the excuse to visit old favourite haunts with dear old friends. Which is why I booked in for a good debrief with my mate Trudy at one of my favourite casual Sydney Italian joints.
The thing that makes Cafe Sopra different is that it’s housed in the Fratelli Fresh veggie & Italian produce shop. The Potts Point version is the second offering from the Fratelli boys and while it’s not as rustic and warehousey as the Waterloo store, it does have the benefit of being open for dinner. And closer to home for me.
loved
the shaved cabbage salad – one of my all time favourite salads. just perfect.
the simple cooking style & brilliant use of fresh produce
the tomatoes – so sweet and fully flavoured
the broccolini – fresh and vibrant – who needs vitamin pills when you’re eating greens like this
the buzz – always busy and lively like a good trattoria with efficient service
the menu – so many delicious sounding things – makes it hard to choose
that you can do your food shopping in the evenings while you wait for a table
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410 Crown St Surry Hills, SYDNEY
450-476 Miller St Cammeray, SYDNEY
24-28 Burns Bay Rd Lane Cove, SYDNEY
www.hudsonmeats.com.au
I still remember the first time my friend Rhys told me about Hudson’s. He had just cooked the most divine pork loin and had nothing but good things to say about his new butcher ‘love’. Now darling Rhys is prone to exaggeration but the pork spoke for itself so the very next day I headed to the little Surry Hills store. It was the begining of a beautiful friendship and I’ve been hooked on Hudsons ever since.
I have spread the word to anyone who would listen. Fortunately the Hudson’s boys keep opening new stores so my friends from the Northside have been able to share the joy. I even inspired my old boss, a vegetarian to visit Hudsons and it’s now her favourite shop. Oh yeah and she’s now eating proscuitto and chorizo – so I guess more of an ex-vegetarian.
love
The staff. Nothing like a serious chat about meat with a knowledgable butcher to make a shopping trip an absolute pleasure. If you’re not sure what you’re doing the boys a Hudsons are always ready to give advice.
The opening hours. They’re open until 7pm and will take phone orders so it’s all ready to pick up on the way home from work. They’ve even stayed open a little longer when the traffic has been bad.
The variety. Pretty much every cut and type of meat, poultry & small goods are on offer. And if they don’t have it they’ll be happy to order it in for you.
The bacon. A lovely big slab of porky goodness that they cut to order which means you can choose the thickness of your rasher. I highly recommend 4mm thick bacon for a BLT.
The quality. The best steak I’ve ever BBQed, the best chook I’ve ever roasted. It’s no coincidence that they all came from Hudsons.
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